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http://dx.doi.org/10.3741/JKWRA.2020.53.1.45

SWAT model calibration/validation using SWAT-CUP I: analysis for uncertainties of objective functions  

Yu, Jisoo (Water Resources Research Center, K-water Research Institute)
Noh, Joonwoo (Water Resources Research Center, K-water Research Institute)
Cho, Younghyun (Water Resources Research Center, K-water Research Institute)
Publication Information
Journal of Korea Water Resources Association / v.53, no.1, 2020 , pp. 45-56 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study aims to quantify the uncertainty that can be induced by the objective function when calibrating SWAT parameters using SWAT-CUP. SWAT model was constructed to estimate runoff in Naesenong-cheon, which is the one of mid-watershed in Nakdong River basin, and then automatic calibration was performed using eight objective functions (R2, bR2, NS, MNS, KGE, PBIAS, RSR, and SSQR). The optimum parameter sets obtained from each objective function showed different ranges, and thus the corresponding hydrologic characteristics of simulated data were also derived differently. This is because each objective function is sensitive to specific hydrologic signatures and evaluates model performance in an unique way. In other words, one objective function might be sensitive to the residual of the extreme value, so that well produce the peak value, whereas ignores the average or low flow residuals. Therefore, the hydrological similarity between the simulated and measured values was evaluated in order to select the optimum objective function. The hydrologic signatures, which include not only the magnitude, but also the ratio of the inclining and declining time in hydrograph, were defined to consider the timing of the flow occurrence, the response of watershed, and the increasing and decreasing trend. The results of evaluation were quantified by scoring method, and hence the optimal objective functions for SWAT parameter calibration were determined as MNS (342.48) and SSQR (346.45) with the highest total scores.
Keywords
SWAT; SWAT-CUP; Parameter calibration/validation; Objective function; Uncertainty;
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